The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-10-27
rHE sEcREr oF SUCCESS.


THE SECRET OF SUCCESS.
ssWhat is the secret of your success,
Judge?" inquired young law student
of Judge H.. one of the most success
full lawyers in the Northwest.
"Wefl," said the Judge, with q re-
Prospective air, Il don't know as there
is any secret about it. In my younger
DAYS I had rough row to hoe, but
hoed it we'll. There was lots of work
In those DAYS to do, but the pay was
small. When I was q STRIPPING. Of
from 16 to 18, used to hire out to
neighboring farmers during the season
of having and harvesting, and when
they came to know me could always
get higher wages than older and
stronger men, because l always made
it ma having or my harvest, working
as if the field and crop belonged to
me. Whether my employer was
present or absent it made no differ
ence with my work. And that has
been my single rule of work through
life, at the blacksmith's forge, in the
harvest field, or as hired attorney at
the bar. Iworked with might, mind,
and strength in any cause in which l
was engaged. Now that's the whole
of it-and that surely is no secret"
But it is secret, we regret to say,
that large numbers of young men
never learn; and if man does not
| learn it early in life the chances are
| he ney er will find it out. At any rate
It is true in fact that this simple rule
| of fidelity to the interest of employers
| is not made the rule of practice by
| thousands of men employed in the
various trades, callings, and profess
| sions, in the service of individuals or
| the public, for wages or fees. They
do not work as if they had any interest
| in the business, but simply to get the
pay for 1.-THE largest possible sum for
the least work.
| Mygreatest trouble" said busi-
ness man recently. ''is in procuring
help to carry on my establishment.
Plenty of hands in the market; but
| want hands with heads on them. My
| work requires brains as we'll as muscle,
and the difficulty is to get men who
| will give heed to their work and take
an interest in it." That mans experi-
ence is not at all singular or except
ional. All men carrying on business
requiring large number of employees
| will tell the same story, that their
| main trouble is securing men with
skill, who will take the requisite de-
gree of interest in their work.
The labor market Is overstocked
! with hands seeking employment. And
yet in the great'wOrld there is con-
stantly increasing demand for hands
| with heads on them, or men who will
apply all their wits and devote all their
powers to the business to be done. In
this field the demand greatly exceeds
the supply, There never has been q
time when faithful, painstaking, and
skillful worker could not obtain em-
ployment, and there is no danger of .
surplus of that kind of men in the
market. The demand is active, and
the pay is always liberal. Even when
it is all full. down below there is plenty
of room above.
The successful men IN all branches
of business or professions, as rule.
are these who have worked their way
upward from the lower ranks by per-
sistcnt adherence to this simple rule
Of fidelity-doing thoroughly and
thoughtfully whatever work they had
to do. There is no deep secret or
mystery about this matter; 1t is not by
chance or luck that the most of the
wealthy or iminent men attained their
enviable positions, They achieved
success by faithful, commonplace
diligence, attention to duty. and hon
esty. Sir Isaac Newton wrote,
.sGenius is patience" And patience
is but another name for that quality oi
fidelity to duty that surely brings its
reward.
Young men little realize how highly
this quality is priced among the mel
who handle great enterprises and who
are compelled to employ assistance in
their business. There are throngs ol
applicants for the positions Of trust
and responsibility at their disposal; bli
they want only the highest and best
sort. Cor which there is the least sup
ply. And for these there is con
slant search and inquiry. That kind
of workingman, in whatever trade
or profession, doesn't as rule have te
go out looking up a job; the men who
ing after him.
This sort of plodding faithfulness,
the single-eyed devotion to, the inter
ests of employers, is certain to be rec
ognized in due time and sure of its
L lAPCu5O. anu le' - NJ
hard of attainment if right begin
ming is made. The first thing essen
tial is to take an interest in the worl
seeking to do it thoroughly and il
the shortest possible time withou
overwork. The simple rule should be
whatever is worth doing at all is wortl
doing well.
| Now, allowing that there are hard
cold, and selfish employers, who will
/ grind down even the most faithful
| workers, as men ride free horse tx
death. yet it holds good as rule tina
the class of men we have described ar,
sure to be recognized and rewarded il
the end. If there were more Of tina
/ spirit of fidelity there would be les,
friction between, employers and em
ployes. fewer labor agitations, strikes
and boycotts, and the walking delegat'
would have to find some more usefu
vocation Chicago lntef- Ocean.